The global grain market is undergoing significant transformations. At the same time, Ukraine’s role within it is evolving due to reduced production volumes. To respond effectively to these new challenges, NIBULON has strengthened its team with professionals who bring extensive experience in international trade.
Sébastien Tournier, Florin Bratucu, and Frederick van Keulen have joined the company. Their expertise and deep market knowledge will support the development of global trading operations and help expand the presence of Ukrainian grain in new international markets.
Sébastien Tournier
With a career spanning over 25 years in international trading, Sébastien has worked with companies ranging from local French players to global multinationals in the protein raw materials sector. His experience includes trading soymeal, sunflower meal, rapeseed meal, palm kernel, soy hulls, and citrus pulp pellets.
Sébastien began his career at Soules Caf in France, then co-founded Agrifeed, the French subsidiary of the U.S.-based Rice Company, where he helped capture 25% of the French market through strong marketing and service. He was later recruited to open and lead the French office for Noble Group, formerly one of Asia’s largest trading houses, and subsequently to establish the French branch of COFCO, China’s state-owned agricultural giant.
His work took him across the USA, France, South America (especially Brazil and Argentina), Africa, and India, where he developed supply-chain partnerships and strengthened international sourcing.
Reflecting on his decision to join NIBULON, Sébastien shares:
“I saw a great opportunity to resume what I’ve done in the past: building a team focused on market share development and bringing in all the tools needed to reach profitability. NIBULON is at a stage where management supports new ideas and trade initiatives, which is a must. A company needs to maintain flexibility and should always look for development opportunities.”
In his new role, Sébastien is responsible for expanding NIBULON’s international branch and increasing traded volumes.
“The result of my work will be reflected in increased international trading volumes with a positive profit contribution to the group,” he adds.
Florin Bratucu
With a career spanning more than two decades in the food and commodity sectors, Florin began his professional journey in Romania in 2001 after completing military service, starting out in the FMCG industry. A few years later, he moved abroad to join Kerry Group, Ireland’s largest food company, where he spent nearly three years in sales.
In January 2006, he entered the world of agricultural commodities, beginning at Cargill, followed by Glencore, and ultimately joining COFCO, where he spent the past nine years developing deep expertise in international trading and origination.
“I already knew NIBULON’s history from a previous meeting with the owners during the first month of the war, and we have worked well together since. The timing felt right for a change,” he explains.
In his new role, Florin will take on the challenge of developing a fresh origination area for NIBULON along the Danube River, with Constanța as the main gathering point. In addition, he will contribute to expanding the company’s international wheat book across multiple global markets.
Looking ahead, his ambitions are clear:
“My goal is to maintain the strong reputation the NIBULON brand holds today and to build new business with trust and pride, creating value for everyone involved in this company.”
Frederick van Keulen
With nearly a decade of experience at Viterra, one of the world’s leading agricultural commodity traders, Frederick brings a strong international background to NIBULON’s trading team. He has worked in both Rotterdam and Argentina. He was also part of the European desk. During those last years, he has been part of the Global Corn Desk.
Reflecting on his decision to join NIBULON, he shares that his perspective comes from years of trading on the opposite side of the table:
“I’ve known NIBULON for many years as a counterpart. The company has always been highly respected for its strong execution and its impressive footprint in the Ukrainian market. I’m excited to be part of that. With my international experience, I hope to add value to the existing NIBULON team and its global reach.”
Frederick will assist the team in determining market direction and optimal position sizing for Ukrainian grain trades. He aims to bring additional optionality to the Ukrainian book by expanding the origin and destination portfolio and leveraging more global opportunities.
His goals are centered on shared growth and results:
“I want to learn from the team while also sharing the knowledge I bring from my previous roles. A more diversified origin-destination portfolio and a broader global scope will help us capture more market opportunities. Ultimately, my objective is to positively impact the company’s PNL and contribute to the success of the team and my colleagues.”
With these additions, NIBULON strengthens its trade department with professionals who combine extensive international experience, market expertise, and a shared commitment to expanding the company’s global presence.
